I Rest My Case | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | January 6, 2023 | |||
Recorded | 2022 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 39:50 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again chronology | ||||
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I Rest My Case is the fifth studio album by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again. It was released on January 6, 2023, by Never Broke Again and Motown. [4] It features production from YoungBoy's in-house engineer, Jason "Cheese" Goldberg, alongside Tay Tay, D-Roc, Swiger Music, DJ Trebble, Khris James, DeCastro, Vinatge Rippah, Dmac, Getro, Kid Krazy, Powers Pleasant, TnTXD, Wayv, and Yo Benji, alongside several other notable producers. [5] [6] It is YoungBoy's first studio project with Motown since signing with the label in October 2022 [7] following the completion of his contract with Atlantic Records earlier that year.
I Rest My Case was first announced by YoungBoy Never Broke Again through his official Instagram page in December 2022, where he stated that an album would be released in January. [8] Despite the album initially being titled Black, through YoungBoy's Amp radio show, he stated that the album's name would be changed to I Rest My Case. [9] Weeks later, YoungBoy's label Never Broke Again revealed the album's initial cover art, however, it received backlash from supporters. [10] Days later, a new cover art was announced which received much more support. [5]
Following the release of the album, YoungBoy would appear on the cover of Billboard's Power 100 magazine [11] in which he stated that this change in appearance was due to him wanting to change. [12]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Clash | 7/10 [3] |
HipHopDX | [2] |
I Rest My Case received generally favorable reviews from music critics. Paul Simpson from AllMusic noted that YoungBoy "appears to be his attempt to hop on the trend known as rage." He concluded his review as he stated wrote that he's "not entirely as unhinged as one might expect from a YoungBoy rage album, it's still a step in a new direction for him." [1] Robin Murray from Clash stated that "YoungBoy Never Broke Again is an unrelenting force in Stateside trap music." Continuing his review, Murray noted that "dealing with fatherhood and responsibility, it pushes his almost punk-like energy in a different direction." Concluding his review, Murray wrote, "An album of subtle progress, 'I Rest My Case' could prove to be his definitive work." [3]
Writing for HipHopDX , Nadine Smith writes that "he's developed a dependable sound, not quite country rap, but aching with a bluesy soulfulness and frequently accompanied by classical guitar," this was followed up by her stating that "it's a style he does well, but his voice encompasses a wider spectrum of timbres and emotions." Concluding the review, Nadine notes that "within those 19 tracks, there's a more experimental EP, but because of the expectations YoungBoy has established for himself, it feels padded out to album-length with what could easily be leftover scraps from past sessions," finishing off by writing, "YoungBoy's voice makes a compelling argument for itself, but tightening the focus might help strengthen his case as an artist." [2]
Jason Lipshutz from Billboard stated that, "YoungBoy generally gets more discerning and ferocious with every new project, and I Rest My Case is one of his strongest full-lengths to date." [13]
I Rest My Case debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 29,000 album-equivalent units (including 1,000 copies in pure album sales) in its first week. [14] The album also accumulated a total of 39.59 million on-demand streams of the album's songs. [14]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Top Girls" | Kentrell Gaulden | 0:30 | |
2. | "Black" |
|
| 2:08 |
3. | "Louie V" | Gaulden |
| 1:34 |
4. | "Swag On Point" |
|
| 2:28 |
5. | "Bitch Yeah" |
| Timmydahitman | 2:48 |
6. | "Red" |
|
| 2:14 |
7. | "Double Cup" | Gaulden |
| 2:22 |
8. | "Fight With My Sheets" |
|
| 2:45 |
9. | "Rage" |
| TayTayMadeIt | 2:11 |
10. | "Top Haters" | Gaulden | 0:24 | |
11. | "Just Like Me" |
|
| 2:47 |
12. | "Ride Me" | Gaulden | Scalez | 1:52 |
13. | "Not My Friend" |
| TrentonxKyle | 3:00 |
14. | "Mini Me" |
|
| 1:56 |
15. | "Clear" |
|
| 2:30 |
16. | "I Love YB Skit" | Gaulden | 0:19 | |
17. | "Groovy" |
|
| 3:10 |
18. | "Same Thang" |
| Swiger Music | 2:42 |
19. | "Hey Pops" |
|
| 2:06 |
Total length: | 39:50 |
Credits adapted from Tidal. [15]
Chart (2023) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard 200 [16] | 9 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [17] | 5 |
"Bring It On" is a song by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again, released on January 21, 2022, as the second track from his seventeenth mixtape, Colors. The song features a murderous essence that YoungBoy brings as he raps about murder, firearms, and crime.
Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, known professionally as YoungBoy Never Broke Again or NBA YoungBoy, is an American rapper. From 2015 to 2017, he released eight independent mixtapes and garnered a regional following for his work. He signed with Atlantic Records and Artist Partner Group in the latter year to release the singles "Untouchable" and "No Smoke", both of which marked his first entries on the Billboard Hot 100. Released in January of the following year, his single "Outside Today" became his first to peak within the top 40 of the chart, and received quadruple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It served as both his mainstream breakthrough and the lead single for his debut studio album, Until Death Call My Name (2018), which peaked at number seven on the US Billboard 200 despite mixed critical reception.
Until Death Call My Name is the debut studio album by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again. It was released on April 27, 2018, by Never Broke Again and Atlantic Records. The album features guest appearances from Future and Birdman, along with Lil Uzi Vert and Offset on the reloaded version.
The discography of American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again consists of six studio albums, three compilation albums, 26 mixtapes, three extended plays, and 102 singles. His music has been released on record labels 101 Distribution, Atlantic Records, and Motown Records, along with subsidiaries Never Broke Again and Artist Partner Group. With over 80 million digital units sold in the United States, he is among the highest certified artists in the United States. YoungBoy has achieved three number-one albums on the Billboard 200 and one top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2022, YoungBoy received a plaque from the Recording Industry Association of America which reads "100 RIAA Gold/Platinum Certifications", making him the youngest artist to receive this at just 22-years-old. He is also the youngest artist in history to chart 100 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 at just 23-years-old.
Tyquian Terrel Bowman better known by his stage name Quando Rondo, is an American rapper, and singer-songwriter. He signed with YoungBoy Never Broke Again's namesake record label, an imprint of Atlantic Records shortly after the release of his 2018 single, "I Remember". The song received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and preceded his debut studio album, QPac (2020), which entered the Billboard 200 and contained his second platinum-certified song, "ABG". His second album, Recovery (2023), entered the chart.
"Bandit" is a song by American rappers Juice Wrld and YoungBoy Never Broke Again, released as a single on October 4, 2019. It served as the final single released by Juice Wrld as a lead artist before his death, suffering from a seizure at Chicago's Midway Airport on December 8, 2019, a few days after his 21st birthday. It was later added to Juice Wrld's second studio album Death Race for Love as a bonus track.
AI YoungBoy 2 is the twelfth full-length mixtape by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again, released on October 11, 2019, by Never Broke Again and Atlantic Records. It features guest appearances from NoCap and Quando Rondo—both signees of Gaulden's record label, Never Broke Again. The project features production from several established record producers, including Buddah Bless, CashMoneyAP, JetsonMade, Mike Will Made It, Nick Mira, and Wheezy. The mixtape serves as a sequel to YoungBoy's breakout mixtape, AI YoungBoy (2017), alongside a follow-up to his eleventh full-length mixtape, Realer (2018).
Realer is the eleventh solo mixtape by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again, released on December 20, 2018, through Never Broke Again, Artist Partner Group, and Atlantic Records. It features guest appearances from Lil Baby and Plies, alongside production from Ben Billions, DJ Swift, DrellOnTheTrack, Dubba-AA, Eliot Bohr, PlayboyXO, Vintage Rippah, and several other producers. The mixtape serves as a follow-up to Gaulden's compilation album, 4Respect 4Freedom 4Loyalty 4WhatImportant, released in September of the same year. It also marks Gaulden's fifth release of the year.
Top is the second studio album by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again, released on September 11, 2020, by Never Broke Again and Atlantic Records. The album follows his debut album Until Death Call My Name, released over two years before. The album features guest appearances from Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg, alongside production from Cheese, Cubeatz, DJ Suede the Remix God, JetsonMade, Smash David, and Wheezy.
"My Window" is a song by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again featuring Lil Wayne, released on September 11, 2020 as the seventh track from YoungBoy's second studio album, Top. Critics were particularly fond of Lil Wayne's verse.
Sincerely, Kentrell is the third studio album by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again. It was released through Never Broke Again and Atlantic Records on September 24, 2021. Unlike Gaulden's previous projects, the album notably contains no guest appearances, which was a key part of the album's rollout. The album's production was handled by a range of accomplished producers including Einer Bankz, Mike Will Made It, Smash David, and Jason "Cheese" Goldberg—who also mixed and mastered the entire record. The album follows Gaulden's second full-length studio album, Top (2020), as well as Until I Return (2020), his fifteenth solo mixtape. A deluxe edition, named Sincerely, Kentrell >, was released four days later on September 28, 2021, and contains two additional songs. The deluxe edition's name is an ode to the "YB Better" trend at the time of the album's release.
The Last Slimeto is the fourth studio album by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again, released on August 5, 2022, by Never Broke Again and Atlantic Records. The album serves as YoungBoy's final release in his contract with Atlantic Records. The album features guest appearances from Kehlani, Rod Wave, and Quavo, alongside production from Bobby Raps, DJ Suede the Remix God, JetsonMade, OG Parker, Southside, and Jason "Cheese" Goldberg who mixed and mastered the entirety of the record. The album serves as a follow-up to Gaulden's sixteenth solo mixtape, Colors (2022).
Never Broke Again, also known as Never Broke Again, LLC, often abbreviated as NBA, is a record label based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, founded by American rapper Kentrell "YoungBoy Never Broke Again" Gaulden, Rodrick "OG3Three" Jeanpierre, and Kyle "Montana" Claiborne in 2015. It was launched as an imprint of Atlantic Records, a division of Warner Music Group until 2022, after which it has operated as an imprint of Motown, a division of Universal Music Group. Never Broke Again has signed and released albums for artists such as Quando Rondo and NoCap, and several upcoming Southern hip hop artists.
"I Know" is a song by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again from his fourth studio album The Last Slimeto (2022). Produced by Cheese and Eliot Bohr, it peaked at number 46 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song serves as the introduction to the thirty-track album and sees YoungBoy rap on a mellow guitar beat about love and heartbreak throughout his life.
Ma' I Got a Family, also referred to by its full title Ma' I Got a Family, A Gangsta Grillz Special Edition Hosted by DJ Drama on streaming services, is the nineteenth solo mixtape by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again, released through Never Broke Again and Atlantic Records on October 21, 2022, a day after his 23rd birthday. The mixtape is hosted by DJ Drama as an installment of his Gangsta Grillz mixtape series. It features guest appearances from rappers Nicki Minaj and Yeat, while the production was handled by 808 Mafia, Chief Keef, Dmac, D-Roc, Drum Dummie, Mason Wu, Noah Mejia, TnTXD, Khris James, and Cheese, the latter two also mixed, mastered, and recorded the entire project. The mixtape marks YoungBoy's sixth release of 2022.
Lost Files is the second compilation album by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again. It was released through Atlantic Records and Never Broke Again on December 23, 2022. The entire project was mixed by Fabian Marasciullo and is the first project of 2022 from YoungBoy to not include any production or engineering from his in-house producer and engineer Jason "Cheese" Goldberg. It also features production from many prestigious producers such as DJ Swift, Dmac, Drum Dummie, Dubba-AA, Dun Deal, Louie Bandz and Mike Laury. The mixtape marks YoungBoy's eighth and final project of 2022. The release of the album was presented as a Christmas gift to fans from YoungBoy and his label.
"Black" is a song by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again, released on January 4, 2023 as a promotional single from his album I Rest My Case (2023). It was produced by Jasiah, Kid Krazy, and Powers Pleasant.
Don't Try This at Home is the sixth studio album by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again. It was released on April 21, 2023, by Never Broke Again and Motown. The album features guest appearances from Mariah the Scientist, Nicki Minaj, Post Malone, and the Kid Laroi. It includes production from YoungBoy's two in-house engineers, Jason "Cheese" Goldberg and Khris James, alongside Dom Beats, Kenoe, Wayv, Yetty, Fresh Ayr and Yo Benji. The project marks YoungBoy's second with Motown and his second in 2023, following January's I Rest My Case.
Decided 2 is the 21st solo mixtape by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again, released through Motown and Never Broke Again on November 10, 2023. It serves as a sequel to his tenth mixtape Decided (2018), and marks his fourth project of 2023, following January's I Rest My Case, April's Don't Try This at Home, and May's Richest Opp. The mixtape features a sole guest appearance from Rod Wave and includes production from Dunk Rock, Lex Luger, Take a Daytrip and TnTXD alongside several other producers. Jason "Cheese" Goldberg, YoungBoy's in-house engineer and producer, acted as a producer on several tracks and mixed and mastered the entire project.
I Just Got a Lot on My Shoulders is the upcoming seventh studio album by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again. It is scheduled to be released on December 6, 2024, by Never Broke Again and Motown. It features production from YoungBoy's in-house engineer, Cheese, alongside Al Geno, Ayo Bleu, Bnyx, D-Roc, No I.D., OG Parker, PlayboyXO, TayTayMadeIt, and several other notable producers. The album is expected to be YoungBoy's final studio album under Motown, following his twenty-first mixtape, Decided 2 (2023).